Feeder for rotary printing machines



'Aug. 10 1926.

F. c. MARQUARDT FEEDER FOR ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 9, 1922 7 f f I Lji VALZLI est:

F. C. MARQUARDT FEEDER .FOR ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES Aug. 10 1926.

Filed Feb. 9. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 10 1926.

F. C. MARQUARDT FEEDER FOR ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 9, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug 10 1926. 1,595,208

' F. c. MARQUARDT FEEDER FOR ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 9, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 10, 1926. i 3

UNITED STATES r 1,595,208 PATENT orrics.

IRANK C. MARQUARDT, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N: Y., A CORPORATION 01' NEW YORK.

FEEDER FOB ROTARY PBINTIN G MACE INES.

Application filed February ,9, 1922. Serial No. 535,157. a

My invention relates to feeders for rotary printing machines, and more particularly to a mechanism of this character for use in an und'ersurface printing machine.

In undersurface rotary printing machines, dampened sheets of paper are used, said sheets being fed directly between the plate and the blanket upon the impression cylinder or D-roll. The feed of the paper during the printing interval is a friction feed between said late and said cylinder, the sheets being col ected directly from the the plate.

Heretofore such machines have had .incorporated therein a reciprocatory feed shelf actuated in synchronism with the printing couple, the operator placing the sheets one at a time upon said shelf in the proper relation to side and back gauges or gauge markings to secure the proper register of the sheet with the design upon the plate, which is essential particularly in multicolor work where two or more impressions are necessary in the completed job.

The forward edge of the sheet in-the type of feed shelf above referred to projected slightly beyond the forward edge of the shelf, great care being required on the part of the operator to prevent skewing of the sheet when the forwardly projectin edges above referred to are first engaged tween the co-acting surfaces of the members of the printing couple.

While the slow speed of undersurfacerotary presses as compared with rotary presses of other types, will permit ample time for roperly positioning each sheet upon the iized shelf as required, there is always likelihood, with mechanical feeders, of the sheet being disturbed after having once been roperly positioned upon the shelf, notwithstanding the exercise of the greatset care in the location of the sheet in relation to the side and rear gauges or gauge markings.

With the above conditions'in mind, I have produced a feeder for rotar presses of the undersurface type wherein t e operator will feed the sheet against rectilineally disposed front gauge stops with relation to a proper side gau e or mark, which front; gauge stops wil have no function in feeding the sheet to the printin couple but will serve merely to ensure t e proper longitudinal mg with said gauges, whic register of the sheet preparataory to a subsequent feeding movement of the sheet under the control of a. mechanism which will hold the sheet in its entirety against displacement upon the feed shelf.

In order to bring the front gau e mechanism into close juxtaposition to t e line of engagement between the members of the printing couple and thus permit the feeding movement of the sheet to be accomplished by a short reciprocatory movement of the feed shelf, and at the same time increase the interval during which the sheet may be fed in relation to said gauges, I provide a suitable fixed su port co-operatwill have the twofold effect of affording a rigid support for the front edge of the sheet, rojecting beyond the forward edge of t e reciprocatory feed shelf, and permit the feedin of a sheet of paper with relation to said front gauge without regard to the return reciprocatory movement of the feed shelf. B3 this construction the operator may a vanc'e a dampened sheet'in close proximity to the sheet being drawn between the members of the printing couple, and thus have it in position to immediately engage the front gauge preparatory to the succeeding feeding movement of the reciprocatory shelf immediately upon the restoration of the front gauge to its normal position, a. condition which gives the operator a little greater time within which to properly adjust the sheet with relation to the front and side gauges. The actuation of the front gauge to position it is-so as to stop the sheet and true up the front edge thereof,

and to pass from its engagement with the gagement of t emembers of theprinting couple, but will ensure a definite uniform ice movement of each sheet by the operator in positioning it with relation to the gauge stops, and at the same time cause a very short movement of the sheet under the control of the reel rocatory feed shelf to bring the forward e go of the sheet into a. position where it can be engaged between the.

tor into engagement with the front gauge stops, at positive feeding movement is imparted thereto by means of gr1ppers carried I -by the reciprocatory feed shelf, and the proper engagement of. the feed grippers printing couple to action of the grippers is relieved while the sheet receives movement under the control of the members of the printing couple. The

above conditions require great nicety in the timing of the relative movement of the front gauge stops, the feed grippers and the reciprocatory feed table with regard to each other and with the plate upon the form or plate cylinder, the various actuating mech- -anisms being so set or being capable of such adjustment as to secure accuracy in such timing. Not only is it necessary to ensure with the sheet for the'feeding movement of the reciprocatory feed shelf, but to disengage these grippers substantially simultaneousl with the passage of the forward edge e the sheet between the members of the printing couple in order to avoid any necessity for uniformity in the speed of said shelfand of the printing couple.

With the movement of frontgauges any necessity for readjustment of the feed me'chan1sm or the gauge stops for sheets of difl'erent lengths is made unnecessary "-al-"" though it is preferable, as will more fully ap ear hereinafter, to provide for a lateral ad ustment of the stops, to-adapt themec anism to sheets of different widths. i I

In a machine made in accordance with my invention, a sheet is permitted to pro-- ject well in advance of the edge of the mov-j able feed shelf presented towards the print ing couple and is supported throughout substantially its entire len h and breadth, the support at its forwar edge being sufficiently close to the engagement line of the revent such afolding or buckling of the s eet as would interfere with the sheet being fed perfectly flat upon the plate. I

The invention consists primarily in a feeder for rotary printing machines embodying therein a fixed support adjacent the printing line of the printing peripheral speed of the printing plates and the usual impression e linder or D-roll 11 associated therewith.

couple adapted to receive a portion of the sheet to be fed, adjacent its forward edge, a front gauge stop movable -towards and from said support, actuatin means for said stop whereby it will be a ternately interposed in the path of the sheet so as-to engage its forward edge and position it with relation to the printin couple for longitudinal register, and move away from said support to permit the sheet to be fed, and means adapted to impart feeding movement to a sheet across said support; and in suchother novel features of construction and combination of arts as are hereinafter set forth and descri ed, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 is a side view of the printing cou le of arotary printing press and a fee er made in accordance with my invention associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the feeding mechanism with the parts in the position immediately preceding the initial feeding movement of the sheet;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the portions of the printing mechanism adjacent the printing couple, showin the relation of parts following the comp etion of the feeding of the sheet by the feeder mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the front stop printing couple consisting of. a plate cylinor 10, adapted to carry two undersurfacs anisms, all of which are of the usualand In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, I- employ an ordinarywell known construction, and therefore sho'wnmerely conventionally in the drawin I I f"% he inking, wiping and polishing mechanisms incidental to a press-of this type are fnot showmas theylconstitute no art of the 'combination'of the invention. T e delivery mechanism is omitted like reason. I

Mounted in the space between the peripheries of the cylinder 10 and the impression cylinder or D-roll ll .i's a, sup ort 14 extending for substantially theentire width of said D-roll, this supporthaving a smooth fromth'e drawings for upper surface and extending as close to the H meeting line of the members of the printing couple as is feasible, in view of the necessity for the provision of clearance for the move ment of afront gauge stop associated therewith. This support 14 is adaptedto receive and sustain the portion of the dampened sheet of paper to be fed, adjacent the forward edge thereof in the direction of its feeding movement, and is fixed so far as the feeding movement of a sheet is concerned. 'The sheet, which is indicated at 15 in the drawings, is positioned upon said support preparatory to each printing cycle of the impression cylinder or D-roll, by hand, and passes thereover under the control of means imparting movement to the sheet during the initlal feeding movement, and as a result of the engagement of the sheet between the plate upon the cylinder 10 and the blanket upon the impression cylinder or D-roll- 11 during a later stage of such feeding movement.

Co-operating with the support 14 are a plurality of rectilineally positioned front gauge stops 16 which are adapted to be so actuated as to be moved towards said support and be interposed in the path of the sheet so as to engage the forward edge thereof as it is fed by hand, and thus prevent this edge from passing beyond said su port, and cause the sheet to be accurate y positioned for longitudinal register of the impression upon the sheet; and tobe moved away from said support to permit the sheet to ass thereover during the mechanical feeing of the sheet. Said front gauge stops are carried by an oscillatory shaft 17 acted upon by a spring 18 adapted normally to raise said stops out of the operative relation to said support 14 so as to afford clearance for the feeding of the sheet.

- Carriedby said shaft is a crank arm-19 having an anti-friction roller 20 thereon arranged in the path of movement of a cam 21 carried by and rotatable with the gear 12 of the impression cylinder so as to move the stops toward the support 14, said cam being so positioned and formed as to synchronize the functioning of said gau e stops with that of the printing coup e.

lVhen the cylinder 10 is adapteddo carry two plates, there will be two such cams 21,

since with this condition the im ression cylinder or D-roll 11-.will'rotate twice with each rotation of the cylinder 10, and it will be I I essential that the stops 16 have one complete cycle 'of'operation with eachv revolution of said impression cylinder or D-roll. I v

The cam 21 isadjustably mountedupon the gear 12 by means of a segment 22, fixed in relation to said wheel, said cam bei carried by a slide 23 having slots 24'therein through which the bolts 25 pass, said bolts also serving to secure the segment 22 in relation to said gear. The slide 23 car- ,ries a plurality of oppositely disposed'abut- Inents 26 and 27 acting between which is a screw 28 carried by a spoke of the gear 12, thus permitting minute circumferential ad width. 4

" gripper fingers 41 adapted to engage a upon the shelf 36 and prevent movement of with downturned forked ends 29, which forked ends as shown, straddle In S 30 projecting from the forward edge o the support 14 and are interposed in the path of movement of the sheet. The stops 16 are carried by a head 31 pivotally mounted in a split collar 32 carried by the shaft 17, an adjusting screw 33 mounted in said collar permitting the positioning of the head 31 to bring the forked ends 29 in the proper relation to the lugs 30, and the set screw 34 being employed to lock them in this position.

The construction described is merely for the purpose of securing a proper adjustment of the front gauge stops with relation toally of said machine, :the. support 14 being carried by a laterally movable slide 35 so as to permit its adjustment laterally of the machine. The lateral adjustment above referred to is to accommodate the front gauge stops to sheets of difierent widths and to cause the stops 16 to engage said sheets at points equidistant from the -longitudinal center line of the sheets, irrespective of its Theinain frame of the machine has a reciprocatory feed shelf 36 mounted thereon in any desired manner, as by means of'the anti-friction rollers 37 and suitable uides or ways 38, actuating means for 'sai shelf give it a timely being provided so as to movement towards the printing couple to advance the sheet into engagement therewith and restore it to its normal position while an impression is being made.

A fixed shelf 39 is provided adjacent said movable feed shelf so as tosupport a pile or stack of dampened sheets convenient to Y the hand of the operator.

Carried by and movable with the shelf 36-are brackets having mounted therein a rock shaft 40'positioned above said shelf sufficiently to rmit sheets to be fed there under; The s aft 40 carries a pluralityl s eet such sheet upon said shelf while the sheet is being advanced towards the printing couple as a result of the forward reciprocatory movement of said shelf.

Each of the gripper fingers 41 is provided with a fiat spring portion 42 adapted to engage the sheet and flex under such engagement so as to develop a light pressure upon the shelf through the sheet, with the two-fold object of developing the de-' sired pressure upon the sheet to avoid displacement thereof with relation to the shelf, and avoid any nicety in the adjustment of the gripper fingers to compensate for unevenness in the surface of the shelf. The gripper fingers 41 are mounted upon the shaft 40' by means of collars 43 having a sliding fit on said shaft, and secured against rotary movement thereon by means of a set screw 44.

The shaft 40 is acted upon by suitable means having a normal tendency to rotate it in a manner to engage the gripper fingers with the feed shelf, as the torsion sprin 45, means being provided to control the unctioning of said spring in engaging said gripper fingers wlth, and in disengaging them from, the sheet, as may be required in feeding a sheet to the printing couple.

As will more fully appear hereinafter, the controlling means above referred to must embody therein means whereby the spring" 45 will be held in tension'with the gripper fingers 41 disengaged from the feed shelf while a sheet is being withdrawn from said shelf by the printing couple and until a succeeding sheet has been positioned with relation to the front gauge stops, and will be'released to cause the fingers to engage the sheet just prior to, and during, the feeding of the sheet under the control of said shelf. Furthermore, uponthe completion of such feeding movement of the sheet, said fingers must be instantly disengaged from the sheet so as to avoid any drag upon the sheet while it is being fed by the printing couple,

' and permit the means holding the grippers awfiy from the shelf, to act.

ence this controlling means will consist of three mechanisms, the functionings of which are synchronized with each other, with the actuation of the front gauge stops, with movements of the feed shelf and with the operation of the printing couple.

The means for preventing the engagement of the gripper fingers 41 with the shelf 36 while a sheet is being positioned in relation to the front gauge stops 16, consists of a stop arm 46 carried by the shaft 40 and a latch dog 47 carried by one of the brackets cooperating. therewith, and adapted to be automatically set to prevent rotation of the shaft 40 by means of a torsion spring 48 acting thereon. The .dog 47 is a mere holding dog and is not designed nor adapted to impart movement to the shaft 40.

The holding dog 47 is adapted to be dis engaged from the stop arm 46 by means of a push rod 49 mounted in a suitable bearing 50 on the frame of'the machine. One end of this rod is positioned adjacent the dog 47 when the feed shelf is at the limit of its return movement, and the other end thereof is pivotally connected with a rock arm 51.

Mounted adjacent the arm 51 is a cam 52 having a short rise engaging an anti-friction roller 53 mounted upon said arm, said cam receiving two full revolutions with each revolution of the cylinder 10 through any desired power transmission mechanism, as the chain and sprocket mechanism 54 receiving its power from the gear wheel 12. The cam 52 is so' set as to operate the rod 49 to disengage the dog 47 from the arm 46 just prior to the initial movement of the shelf 36 towards the printing couple when feeding a sheet.

A spring 55 acts upon the arm 51 to retract the rod 49, the stop 56 limiting the movement of said arm by said spring.

One side frame of the machine has mounted thereona fixed wedge 57 positioned adjacent the printing couple and adapted to be engaged by a roller 58 upon an arm 59 carried by the shaft 40 and oscillate said shaft with the primary object of lifting the gripper fingers 41 to disengage them from the sheet being fed, and raise the arm 46 so as permit the dog 47 to pass below and engage same so as to hold the gripper fingers elevated 'until the succeeding actuation of the rod 49. The arm 59 is of a length to engage the wedge 57 towards the end of the forward feeding movement of the shelf 36.

The actuating means for the feed shelf 36 com rises a cam 60 carried by and rotatable with the shaft of the gear wheel 12. This cam has two rises and falls 61-62, and is so setas to time the actuation of the feed shelf with due regard to the initial engagement of each plate upon the cylinder 10 with the impressioncylinder or D-roll 11.

Mounted upon the frame of the machine adjacent the printing couple is a swing arm 63 carrying an anti-friction roller 64 engaging the cam. 60. Pivotally connected with the arm 63' is a connecting rod 65, which is also connected with a short crank 6 upon a rock shaft 67 having a long crank 68 secured thereto. Extending from the crank 68 and connected with the table 36, 1s a pitman 69 by means of which a forward movement is imparted to said table. The return movement is effected by means of a weight or weights '70 connected with said table by a flexible connection or connections 71 passing over suitable guide pulleys.

The operation of the herein described feeder for rotary printing machines is substantially as follows U3 undersurface printing press, the show aredampened and stored in a stack adjacent the reciprocatory feed shelf '36 so as to convenient to'the hand of the o era tor. FVhen a feeding mechanism ma e in accordance with my invention is used in a press a this type, the sheets are removed from stack one at a time by the o erator placed ripen the shelf 36 and a vance thereon by hand until the ortion of the sheet adjacent the forwar edge thereof rests upon the support 14 with the forward edge engaging'the downturned ends 29 of the front gauge stops 16, which will cause the sheet to be accurately positioned with relation to the design upon the printin Y plate when the sheet is subsequently fe to the printing couple. The position of said stops with'each printing operation will be the same, thus causingall. sheets fed to the tion to the plate longitudinallythereof.

' or if desired .shown in Fig.

press to be similarly positioned with rela- The lateral positioning is secured by means of gauge marks upon the feed shelf, any other side guage may be used instead of such marks. .In feeding the sheet with relation to the passed beneath support 14 and stops 16, it is the ripper fingers 41-42. 1

hen the position of parts is such asis 1 of the drawings, a sheet has been fed an the plate cylinder is in a position where the stops 16 have been moved in an upward forward'arc from the edge of the sheet 15, thus providing a clear field and with it the rod 49,

- to rock the shaft resilient ends 42 of the for the advance of the sheet l5toward the meeting point of the plate upon the plate cylinder 10, and the blanket upon the impression cylinder or 'D-roll 11. At this stage the gripper fingers 4142 are still held out of enga ement with the sheet upon the shelf 36 by t e engagement of the latch dog 47 with the arm 46, the rise 61 of the cam 60 being disengaged from the roller 64 upon the swmg arm 63, and the cam 52 being engaged with the roller 53 upon the arm51. m

With the continued movement of the cylinder 10, the cam 52 will move the arm 51 and trip the dog 47, permitting the spring 40 so PP 41-42 with the sheet 15 upon the shel 36. and thus positioning these parts preparatory to the feeding movement'which will immepitman'69. Just prior to,

feeding movement of the shelf 36, the vadiately follow as a result of the engagement of the rise 61 upon the cam with the roller 64 and the resultant movement of the shelf '36 through. the link 65, crank 68 and and during the rious parts will be in the position as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, except the shelf itself and the actuating means therefor. a

With the movement of the shelf 36, the gripper fingers 41-42 will ensure a positive feeding movement of. the sheet 15 in its entirety with the shelf, the forward por tion of the sheet sliding. freely over the support 14 and coming torest upon the printing plate substantially simultaneously with i pression cylinder or D-roll .11 therewith.

the engagement'of the blanket upon the imwhich will engage as to enga e the ere) As the sheet reaches this position, the roller 58 will engage the wedge 57 andraise the arm 59so as to disengage the fingers 41-42 from the sheet, thus ermitting the sheet to be drawn from the s elf 36 by the printing couple. During the feeding movement-ot the sheet under the printing couple,

the spring 18 will maintain the front gauge Q stops. 16 in their position above the support 14.'

During the advance movement bf the shelf 36, theedge thereof adjacent the support 14 will pass over said support, this ed e bep as compare with l v 7 parts substa'ntiall simulagement oft e sheet rs of'the printing a ing reduced in thickness, the rest of the shelf, for

The relation'of taneously with the en 15 between the mem couple, is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Substantially simultaneously with, orimmediately following,

this purpose.

a the passage of the sheet 15 from the shelf 36 under thecontrol printing couple.

As the fingers 41-42 are'raised by the ii-Z gagement of the roller 58 with. the wedge 57, the spring 48 will rotate the latch dog 47 bringin it under the arm 46 'so'thatasthe shel 36 recedes, 41-42 will be held in-the'elevated position to afford clearance for succeeding sheet with relation tothe support 14. The length of therise and fall 61 or 62 upon the cam 60 may be such as to hold the the gripper fingers h the feeding 'of the m5 shelf 36- stationary during any part of the feeding movement of the'sheet 15 by printing couple, althou' h .it is to use a short length 0 the preferable 'cam riser so'that the feeding of succeeding sheets-may be accomplished while this shelf isstatioriary Q and in the full retracted position; By using for ed ends 29 upon the gauge.stops\co-operating with the tongues 30, the ends of said arms ward edge of the support 14, the accurate adjustment of said arms by the screw33 eliminating any necessity for-anv-high dc overlap (the for t y gree of precision in the formation of the cam 21-. The circumferential adjustment of the cam 21 with relation to'the gear 12 is largely for urposes of timing the actua tion of the nt gauge sto with relation to the movement of the fee shelf, since the length of plate is not a factor to'be conginting couple to difi'erentlengths of plates ing effected through the actuation ofthe sldered, adjustment to accommodate the form or plate cylinder, and there being as a rule little variance in the lengths of different plates.

Movement of the front gauge stops 16 when positioning them with relation to the support 14 is against the tension of the spring 18, the function of said spring being to normally elevate said stops when such W It. isto be observed that I t e members of the printing couple.

1 term fixed is used to de 'son-o substantially gagement o t movement is permitted by the operative relation of the cam 21 and the roller 20.

The trip mechanism for the dog 47 has only a short movement, which occurs prior to any feeding movement of the shelf 36, this mechanism having no movement with the shelf y i v The wedge 57 'is operativeonly at or toward the end of thefeeding movement of the shelf-36." v I v If sheets of dilferent widths are used, it is desirable to adjust the front gauge stops laterally of the machine, which is permissible by reason of the construction described, the support 14 being similarly adjusted to preserve the proper relation of thetongues 30 and the forked ends 29. e

by rea'son of the ort 14 between the converging surfaces 0 the plate upon the cylinder 10, and the blanket upon the impression cyllnder or D-roll 11, and in fairly close proximity to the meeting int of the two curved surfaces,v the fee ing of the sheet 15 is accomplished bya short movement of the shelf 36, the gripper finger releasi mechanism being operative, by reathe fixed position of the wedge 57,

position of the sup lot the printing couple, thus avoiding any necessity for any concordance in the lineal s eed of the shelf 36 and of peripheries of The use of the fixed sufpnporthl, anttil the e t e con.ition the sheet as compared with any manner of v adjustment, permits the projection of a plates the hand feed of the s eet.-

hold the sheetv considerable portion of the sheet adjacent .its forward edge beyond the forw rd edge of the reciprocatory feed shelf 36' while a-' fording a suitable sup ort therefor during The gripper fingers 41 '-42 with sufiicient ermaneney to avoid any .loss of register t rough displacement of the sheet during its feeding movement under the control of the shelf. v i- As heretofore stated, the actuating cams for the front auge stops, and for the feed shelf, will be determined by the number of used upon the cylinder 10, the functiming of the gripper release mechanism being of the shelf 36. "-The design of the actuating mechanismsfor the trip-mechanism for .der and an impression cylinder,

simultaneously with the enhe sheet between the members to pass automatic as a result of the movement also be variedtaccording to the number of lates, to bring this mecha-, nism into accord with the actuating means for the feed shelf. 7

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the drawings, it being apparent that such may be varied to conform the invention to different designs of undersurface printing presses, the invention being particularly adapted for use with this type of press, wherein dampened sheets of highgrade paper are employed, and accuracy in the feeding thereof 15 desirable, not onlyto avoid wastage through improper impres sions, but to effect a saving of paper as a result of a reduction in the width of margins which must be subsequently trimmed during the finishing of the sheets.

Having described the invention, what I the dog 47, may

claim as new and desire to have. protected by Letters Patent, is I 1. A feeder for rotary printing machines embodying therein the combination with a printing couple consisting of a plate cylinof a'fixed support adjacent the printing line of the prmting couple adapted to receive a portionof the sheet to be fed, adjacent its forward edge, a front gauge stop movable towards and from said su port, actuating means for said sto whereby it will be alternately interpose in the ath of the sheet so as to engage its forwar edge and position it with relation to the printing couple 1 for longitudinal register, and moved away from said. support to permit the sheet to be fed a reciprocatory member ada ted to receive and support a sheet in relation to said support and said front 'gauge stop positioned ad'acent said. support and adapted t ereover, "means carried by said member for holding a sheet in relation .thereto,and intermittently operative means operative upon said member, whereby a sheet is simultaneously fed in relation to said'support and said front gauge stop and receiveafeeding movement by said member across said sup ort and said stop to between the members 0 the printing couple.

A feeder for rotary printin machines embodying therein the-combination with a printin couple consisting of aplate c linder an an impression cylinder, of a xed support adjacent the I rinting line of the printin couple adapt 'to receive a portion of the 5 eat to be fed, adjacent its forward edge, a' front gauge stop-movable towards and from said support, actuating means for said stop whereby a will be alternately interposed in the path of the'sheet so as to engage its forward edge and position it with relation tudinal register,

and moved away, from said support to permit to the printing couple for longithe" sheet to be fed, a reciprocatory feed shelf, positioned-adjacent said support and adapted to pass thereover, grippers carried thereby, means adapted to cause engagement of said grippers with a sheet prior to a feeding movement of said shelf, intermittently operative means acting upon said shelf whereby a sheet may be s1- multaneously fed in relation to sald shelf, said fixed support-and said front gauge, and will thereafter be fed across said support, actuating means for said reciprocatory feed shelf, whereby said shelf will be moved toward said printing couple after said stop has been moved away from said support to advance the sheet to a position where it will be engaged between the plate upon said plate cylinder and said impression cylinder, and means adapted to disengage said grippers from the sheet substantially simultaneously with the engagement of the forward edge of the sheet by the members of the printing couple.

3. A feeder for rotary printing machines embodyingtherein a fixed support adjacent theprinting line of the printing couple adapted to receive a ortion-of the sheet to be fed, adjacent its orward edge, a front gauge stop movable towards and from said support, actuating means for said stop whereby it will-be alternately interposed in the path of the sheet so as to engage its forward edge and position it with relation to the printing couple for lon itudinal register, and moved away from sai support to permit the sheet to be fed, a reciprocatory feed shelf, grippers caLried thereby, means normally holdin said grippers out of engagement with t e feed shelf, means operative independently of the movement of theshelf for releasingsaid grippers prior to the initial feeding movement of the shelf, and

means adapted to disengage said grippers from the sheet substantially simultaneously with the engagement of the forward edge of the sheet by the members of the printing couple.

4. A feeder for rotary printing machines embodying therein a fixed support adjacent the printing line of the printing couple adapted to receive a portion of the sheet to, 4 .be fed, adjacentits.

orward edge, a front gauge stop movable towards and from said ice support, actuating means for said stop whereby it Willbe alternately interposed in c thefpath of the sheet so as to engage its forward edge and position it with relation to the printing couple for a longitudinal register, and moved away from said support acting thereon and having a normal ten ency to rotate said shaft so as to engage the gripper fingers with the feed shelf, a crank arm carried by said shaft, a fixed cam adapted to en age said crank arm toward the limit of the feeding movement of the feed shelf, a stop upon said shaft, a holding dog having a normal tendency to engage said stop, actuating means adapted to impart reciprocatory movement to the feed shelf, and a trip mechanism operative upon said holding dog actuated in synchronism with said last named actuating means, whereby said latch member will be disengaged from said stop prior to the initial feeding movement of the shelf. I

5. A feeder for rotary printing machines embodying therein a fixed support adjacent the printing line 'of the printing couple adapted to receive a portion of thesheet to be fed, adjacent its forward edge, a front gauge stop movable towards and from said support, actuating means for said stop whereby it will be alternately interposed in the path of the sheet so as to engage its forward edge and position it with relation to the printing couple for longitudinal register, and moved away from said support to permit the sheet to be fed, a reciprocatory feed shelf, a rock shaft carried by said shelf, gripper fingers carried byv said shaft, including therein a flat spring portion adapted to engage the sheet and flex under engagement therewith, a spring acting thereon and having a normal tendency to rotate said shaft so as to engage the gripper fingers with the feed shelf, a crank arm carried by said shaft, a fixed cam adapted to engage said crank arm toward the limit of the feeding movement of the feed shelf, a stop upon said shaft, a holding dog having a normal tendency to engage said stop, actuating means adapted to impart reciprocatory movement to the feed shelf, and a trip mechanism operative upon said holding dog actuated in synchronthe printing line of the printing couple adapted to receive a portion of the sheet to be fed, adjacent its forward edge, a front gaugestop movable towards and from said support, actuating means for said stop whereby it will be alternately interposed in the path of the sheet so as to engage its forward edge and position it with relation to the printing couple for longitudinal register, and moved away from said support to permit the sheet to be fed, a reciprocatory feed shelf, a rock shaft carried by said shelf, gripper fingers carried by said shaft, a spring acting thereon and having a normal tendency to rotate said shaft so as to engage the gripper fingers with the feed shelf, a crank arm carried by said shaft, a fixed cam adapted to engage said crank arm toward the limit of the feeding movement of the feed shelf, a stop upon said shaft, a holding dog having a normal tendenc to'engage said stop, actuating means a apted to impart reclprocatory movement to the feed shelf, a

push rod adapted to engage said holding dog, and actuating means for said push rod whereby said dog will be disengaged from its ing couple adapted. to engage said front gauge with said support after the feeding of each sheet to said printing couple, and permit the disengagement of the gauge from said supportprior to the next feeding operation, and means adapted to im artfeeding movement to a sheet across sai support.

8. A feeder for rotary printing machines embodying therein a fixed support adjacent the printing line of the printing couple adapted to receive a portion of the sheen-to be fed, adjacent its forward edge, a front gaugestop movable towards and from said support consisting of metal having converging arms provided with downturned forked ends, lugs upon. said support adapted to receive the Y forked ends of said arms, a rock shaft carrying said front gauge stop, means having a normal tendency to raise said stop from a said support, a crank armoperative upon part feeding movement to 1 supp 9. A feeder for rotary printing machinesembodying therein a fixed support adjacent the printing line of the printing couple,

said rock shaft, a cam carried by one of the members of the printing couple adapted to engage said front gauge'with said support after the feeding of each sheet to said printing couple, and permit the disengagement of the (gauge from said support prior to the next fee ing operation, and means adapted to ima sheet across said ort.

ada ted to receive a portion ofthe sheet to gauge stop'mova-ble towards an support consisting .of metal having iconver 'ng I arms for ed. ends, ugs upon said' support adapted to receive. the forked ends vof said arms, means whereby said support and said arms may be adjusted laterally of the machine, a rock shaft carrying said front gauge stop, means having a normal tendency to raise said stop from said suptoithe next '-'adapted;"t o"iinpart feeding movement to a sheet across said, support.

be, ed,v adjacent its forward ed e, a front 1 from said provided with downturned port, a crank arm operative upon said rock shaft, a cam carried by one of the members of the printing couple adapted to engage said front gauge with said support after the feeding of each sheet to said printing couple, and permit the disengagement of the gauge from said sup ort prior to the next feeding operation, and means adapted to impart feeding movement to a sheet across said suport. P 10. A feeder for rotary printing machines embodying therein a fixed support adjacent the printing line of the printing couple adapted to receive a portion of the sheet .to be fed, adjacent its forward edge, a front gauge stop movable, towards and from said support, a rock shaft carrying said front gauge stop, means having a normal tendency to'raise said stop from said support, a crank carried by one of the members of the printing couple adapted to engage said'front gauge with said support after the feeding of each sheet to said printin couple, and permit the disengagement 0% the gauge from said support prior to the next feeding operation, mean whereby said cam may be adjusted circumferentially of the printing couple member to secure accuracy in the timing of the actuation of said" front gauge, and means adapted to impart feeding movement to a sheet across said support.

11. A feeder for rotary printing machines embodying therein a fixed support adjacentthe printing line of the printing couple adapted to receive a ortion of the sheet to be fed, adjacent its orward edge, a front gauge stop movable towards and from said support, a rock shaft carrying said front gauge top, means having a normal tendency to raise said stop from said support, a crank arm 0 erative upon said rock shaft, a segment Xed in relation to one of the members of said printing couple, a slide mounted upon said segment, means whereby said slide maybe adjusted with relation to said seg ment, acamcarried .by said slide adapted to engage'said front gauge with said support after, thejeedingof each sheet to said printi conplepand permit the disengagementio .th 'gau" ee ing operation, and means 12. A feeder for rotary printing machines 'embodyin therein a fixed sup ort adjacent to the printing couple for longitudinal regisfrom said support prior from sai (for, and moved away from said support to permit the sheet to be fed, a reciprocatory feed shelf, a double crank shaft. a pitman connecting one of the cranks of said shaft with said shelf, an oscillatory shaft, connections between said shaft and the other crank of said crank shaft, a cam carried by one of the members of said printing cou 1e and operative upon said rock arm, where y said feed shelf will receive a timely reciprocation, grippers carried thereby, means adapted to cause engagement of said grippers with a sheet prior to a feeding movement of said shelf whereby a sheet will be fed across said support, and means adapted to disenga e sald grippers from the sheet substantially simultaneously with the engagement the forward edge of the sheet by the members of the printing couple.

13. A feeder for rotary chines embodyingtherein a fixed support adjacent the printing line of the printing couple adapted to receive a portion of the sheet to be fed, adjacent its forward edge, a front gauge stop movable towards and support, actuating means for said step whereby it will be alternately interposed in the path of the sheetso as to engage its forward edge and position it with relation to the printing couple for printing malongitudinal register, and moved away from v a spring acting t ereon and ha said support to permit the sheet to be fed, a reciprocatory feed shelf, grippers carried thereby, means adapted to cause engagement of said grippers with a sheet prior to a feeding movement of said shelf whereby a will be fed across said support, means sheet adapted to disengage said grippers from the sheet substantially simultantously with the-engagement of the forward edge of the sheet by the members of the printing couple, and a fixed feed shelf adapted to contain a stack of sheets adjacent said reciprocatory feed shelf.

14. A feeder for rotary printing machines embodying therein a fixed support adjacent the printing line of the printing couple adapted to receive a portion of the sheet to be fed, adjacent its forward edge, a front gauge stop movable towards and from said support, actuating means for said step whereby it will be alternately interposed in the ath of the sheet so as to engage its forward edge and position it with relation to the printing couple for longitudinal registor, and moved awa permit the sheet to feed shelf, a rock shelf, gripper fin e fed, a reciprocatory shaft carried by said mal tendency to rotate said shaft sea? t3 engage the gripper fin ers with the co shelf, a crank arm carri ed by said shaft, a fixed cam adapted to engage said crank arm toward the limit of the feeding movement from said support to ers carried by said shaft, 7

3 nor" of the feed shelf, a stop upon said shaft, a holding dog having a normal tendency engage said step, actuating to impart reciprocator feed shelf, a push ro adapted to engage said holding do arock arm pivotally connected with sai push rod, a rotatable cam adapted to operatively engage said rock arm, a spring operative upon said rock arm in opposition to said cam, and means rotating said cam in synchronism with the pinting couple, whereby said rock arm will to means adapted movement to the actuated prior to each feeding movement of the feed shelf. 15. A feeder for rotary printing machines embodying therein a fixed supportadjacent the printing line of the printing couple.

adapted to receive a portion of the sheet to i' g be fed,.adjacent its forward edge, a front v gauge stop movabletowards and from said support, ;a rock shaft carryingvsaid front gaugestop, means having a normal tenency to raise said stop from said support, a crank arm operative upon said rock shaft, a segment fixed in relation to one of the members of said printing couple, a slide mounted upon said segment, means whereby said slide may be adjusted with relation to said segment, a cam carried by said slide and adapted to engage said front auge with said support after the feeding 0 each sheet to said printing couple, and permit the disengagement of the gauge stop from said support prior to the next feeding operation, whereby said stop will be alternately interposed in the path of the sheet-so as to engage its forward edge. and position it with relation to the printing couple for longitudinal register, and moved awa from said support to permit the sheet to e fed, a reciprocatory feed shelf, a rock shaft carried by said shelf, gripper fingers carried by said shaft, a sprin acting thereon and hlavfiing a normal ten 611110} to rotate said s a so as to engage t e i per finge rs with the feed shelf, a crank a r i carried by saidshaft, a fixed cam adapted to engage [said crank arm toward the-limit of the feeding movement of the feed shelf, a stop upon said shaft, a holding dog having a normal tendency to engage said step, actuating means adapted to impart reciprocatory movement to the feed shelf, a push rod adapted .to engagesaid holding dog, a rock arm pivotally connected with said push rod, a rotatable cam adapted to operatively engage said rock arm, a spring operative upon said rock arm in opposition to said cam, and means rotating said cam in synchronism with the printing couple, whereby said rook arm willbeiactueted; riortoeach feeding movement of thefee shelf.

In witness whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature this 1st day of February, 1922.

FRANK C. MARQUARDT. 

